Chapter 7: Subak and Hwrang

The sulsa wore whatever clothing that helped them blend into a particular culture. They also wore a black uniform similar to that worn by the ninja, except, instead of a hood, the sulsa wore a three foot by three foot piece of cloth on their head, which, when not being worn as camouflage, was used as a carrying bag.

Hwarang-do Code of Conduct

Courage, self-sacrifice, and the steadfast ability to face death with reckless indifference were the foundation of Hwarang character. They searched for the basic principles of the universe and for man's connection to the whole. They worked for complete harmony, inner calmness, and resolution derived from certainty and balance. This philosophy was reflected in their list of nine virtues: humanity, honor, courtesy, knowledge, trust and friendship, kindness, wisdom, loyalty, and courage.

Hwarang-do education based its guiding principles on the Five Codes of Human Conduct, a code of honor based on rigid loyalty to the nation, respect and obedience to one’s parents, interminable loyalty to friends, courage in battle, and prudence and restraint on using violence. The code was created by the Buddhist scholar, Won Kwang Bopsa. Two young Hwarang warriors asked Won Kwang Bopsa for some commandments to guide men who could not embrace the secluded life of a monk. In response, he developed the five codes.